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Calcium Hydroxide Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 2 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for concentrated, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR, SS 316, SS 304, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), PVC Flexible, PETG, PMP (18)
Rated B, good resistance
Polystyrene, Polysulfone (2)
Rated C, limited resistance
Aluminium (1)
Rated D, not resistant
Polycarbonate (1)
No data in the source
Silicone, SAN
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PVDF (A → C), Aluminium (C → D)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
Polystyrene: A (aqueous), B (concentrated)

Based on the row for concentrated, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Calcium Hydroxide: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 9 A, 2 B, 1 D, 1 no data. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 3 A, 1 no data. Metals: 2 A, 1 C.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 9 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, PMP, PETG, Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA))A 9Thermoplastics: 2 × B, good resistance (Polystyrene, Polysulfone)B 2Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Polycarbonate)Thermoplastics: 1 × no data (SAN)Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 3 × A, very good resistance (EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR)A 3Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 2 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304)A 2Metals: 1 × C, limited resistance (Aluminium)C 1
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Calcium Hydroxide: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CPVDF A → C; Aluminium C → D.ABCDPVDF: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVDFAluminium: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CAluminium
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
1305-62-0
Formula
CaH2O2
Hazard symbols in the source
Xi (irritant) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
aqueous; concentrated
Also listed as
Slaked Lime (Calcium Hydroxide); Limewater
Name in the source (German)
Calciumhydroxid

Rating by concentration

Calcium Hydroxide: Rating by concentrationHDPE: aqueous A, concentrated A. LDPE: aqueous A, concentrated A. PP: aqueous A, concentrated A. PVC Rigid: aqueous –, concentrated A. PVC Flexible: aqueous –, concentrated A. PMP: aqueous A, concentrated A. Polystyrene: aqueous A, concentrated B. Polycarbonate: aqueous D, concentrated D. PETG: aqueous A, concentrated A. Acetal (POM): aqueous A, concentrated A. Nylon (PA): aqueous A, concentrated A. Polysulfone: aqueous –, concentrated B. PTFE: aqueous A, concentrated A. FEP: aqueous A, concentrated A. PVDF: aqueous A, concentrated A→C. ECTFE/ETFE: aqueous A, concentrated A. EPDM: aqueous A, concentrated A. Viton (FPM): aqueous A, concentrated A. NBR: aqueous A, concentrated A. SS 316: aqueous A, concentrated A. SS 304: aqueous A, concentrated A. Aluminium: aqueous C→D, concentrated C→D.aqueousconcentratedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, aqueous: no data–PVC Rigid, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, aqueous: no data–PVC Flexible, concentrated: A at 20 °CAPMPPMP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMP, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrenePolystyrene, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrene, concentrated: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, concentrated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETGPETG, aqueous: A at 20 °CAPETG, concentrated: A at 20 °CAAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAcetal (POM), concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANylon (PA)Nylon (PA), aqueous: A at 20 °CANylon (PA), concentrated: A at 20 °CAPolysulfonePolysulfone, aqueous: no data–Polysulfone, concentrated: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, concentrated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, aqueous: A at 20 °CAEPDM, concentrated: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAViton (FPM), concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBRNBR, aqueous: A at 20 °CANBR, concentrated: A at 20 °CAMETALSSS 316SS 316, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304SS 304, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, concentrated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminiumAluminium, aqueous: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DAluminium, concentrated: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→D
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each cell shows the rating at 20 °C. Where the rating at 50 °C differs, it follows the arrow. * marks an estimate in the source.
Show as a table
Materialaqueousconcentrated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC Rigid–A
PVC Flexible–A
PMPAA
PolystyreneAB
SAN––
PolycarbonateDD
PETGAA
Acetal (POM)AA
Nylon (PA)AA
Polysulfone–B
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMAA
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRAA
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumCC

Resistance table: Calcium Hydroxide, aqueous

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PMPAA
PolystyreneAA
PolycarbonateDD
PETGA–
Acetal (POM)AA
Nylon (PA)A–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRA–
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumCD

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, SAN, Polysulfone, Silicone

Resistance table: Calcium Hydroxide, concentrated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PVC FlexibleA–
PMPAA
PolystyreneBB
PolycarbonateDD
PETGA–
Acetal (POM)AA
Nylon (PA)A–
PolysulfoneBB
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAC
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRA–
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumCD

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: SAN, Silicone

Rating scale

A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Calcium Hydroxide at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Calcium Hydroxide at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Calcium Hydroxide?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Calcium Hydroxide are: Polycarbonate. These should not be used in contact with Calcium Hydroxide.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Calcium Hydroxide?

Yes. 2 of 17 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Calcium Hydroxide. Materials affected include: PVDF, Aluminium.

Is PTFE safe for Calcium Hydroxide?

PTFE is rated A for Calcium Hydroxide at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

Does concentration affect chemical resistance to Calcium Hydroxide?

Yes. Calcium Hydroxide is tested at 2 concentrations (aqueous, concentrated). Some materials change their rating depending on the concentration.

About this data

The ratings come from the chemical resistance list published by Bürkle GmbH, which compiled them from raw-material manufacturers’ data. They describe laboratory tests on the raw material at 20 °C and 50 °C.

A finished part also sees pressure, mechanical stress, welds and mixtures that a laboratory test does not. Treat the rating as a first filter and test under your own conditions before relying on it.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.